In the wake of third baseman Alex Rodriguez missing as many as six months after hip surgery, the New York Yankees went out and agreed with Kevin Youkilis to a one-year, $12 million contract Tuesday, according to Fox Sports.com.

Youkilis was a coveted player this offseason and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies and Seattle Mariners all showed varying degrees of interest. But in the end, the deal from the Yankees kept him in the familiar American League East and gave him a club with championship aspirations.

Kevin Youkilis had 19 home runs last season. (AP Photo)

Youkilis, 34 in March, has a career 124 OPS-plus and after leaving a bad situation in Boston, he pushed his OPS-plus from 85 to 106 and his on-base percentage from .315 to .346 in 80 games last season with the Chicago White Sox, showing he still has offensive worth. That is something the Yankees will need since Rodriguez won’t be in their lineup for a significant amount of time, and some within the organization have speculated he might miss the entire season.

The Yankees tried to re-sign Eric Chavez and tried to get Jeff Keppinger to play the position, but both players signed elsewhere. The Yankees, under orders to lower the payroll below $190 million for 2014, aren’t keen on giving out a deal for more than a year at that position since they expect Rodriguez to return to it.

Youkilis has had a chippy relationship with the Yankees during his time with the Red Sox, having been hit 17 times by Yankee pitchers, including five times last season. In 2007, Yankee right-hander Joba Chamberlain threw two fastballs over Youkilis’ head and Chamberlain was suspended for two games. A season later, Chamberlain threw up and in to Youkilis, sending him to the dirt and Youkilis responded by going toward the mound but was restrained.

Regardless of the bad blood between Youkilis and his former rival, the move is good for the Yankees. Youkilis can still produce and he will help the Yankees absorb the hit of losing A-Rod.